The Communicative Opportunities Afforded Parents of Premature Infants who had Graduated from a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Abstract:

This study endeavored to explore the opportunities afforded parents to develop optimal
communication with their infants during their experience of the NICU in a private-sectored
hospital. Six sets of parents participated in a semi-structured interview and completed a
short questionnaire. They were interviewed one year after their infants were discharged
from the NICU. The interview and questionnaire probed the three main components that
are known to influence the development of optimal communication between parents and
their infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): the infants prematurity and
medical condition; the nature of the NICU; and the parents ability to adjust and adapt to
the challenges faced during the NICU experience. The data obtained was analysed
qualitatively using a constant comparative method. Six main themes emerged:
preparedness; contact with the infant; bonding; information; support; and previous
parenting experience. The findings reflected that the parents were afforded limited
opportunities for the development of adequate infant-parent interaction. The implications
of this study highlight the need for appropriate developmental and family-centred care to
be implemented within NICUs in private-sector hospitals, the role of the speech-language
therapist in the NICU team to be defined, and future research into the nature of the care
provided within NICUs in South Africa.

Description:

Faculty of Speech,Language,Pathology and Audilogy
School of Humanities and community Development
9604968n
lynzicrisp@yahoo.co.uk